Interview With Chana Robinson, Director of Case Management Services

Today I interviewed Good Samaritan Project employee, Chana Robinson to discuss her role at the agency. Chana is the Director of Case Management Services.

Bucky: You are the Director of Case Management Services. What does that mean?

CR: I supervise the case management department. There are eight case managers. In addition, I carry a small case load.

Bucky: How long have you been at Good Samaritan Project?

CR: I have been here for seven years, eight in April of 2010.

Bucky: What changes in the system have you seen since you have been here?

CR: Initially, more services were available, transportation, emergency assistance, a food pantry specifically for people with HIV. When I first started HIV was not considered a chronic illness but a death sentence. Now, people are living healthy and positive with HIV.

Younger people are involved with case management. When I started, most clients where between the ages of 30-45, maybe 47. Now we are seeing 18, 17 year olds coming into case management. We are also seeing more people that are newly diagnosed at 50, 60.

Refugees and the immigrant population are increasing. When I started, we would have one or two per case load. Now, about twelve percent of the case load is refugee or immigrants.

Bucky: Why have we seen the increase in these cases?

CR: People are coming over with student or work visas. Also, women are coming to have babies and go back to their country after initial testing of the newborn is completed. Newborns receive an initial test and then are tested at six months. We keep their files open for eighteen months.

Bucky: What changes have you seen in the staff?

CR: Over the years, staff has changed to new college graduates from seasoned case managers. Staff tended to be further in their career, where as now, this job is more foundational.

Bucky: Does Good Samaritan Project have a lower turnover rate for case managers? Isn’t the national average eighteen months?

CR: We have a lower turnover rate than other HIV management sites. I check in with case managers especially around the eighteen month point. I encourage case managers to take vacations, days off and breaks during the day.

Bucky: What changes will we see in the future to services?

CR: About 500 people per year get diagnosed with HIV in the state of Missouri. Of those 500, 250 will qualify for Ryan White services. The system will have to adjust to continue to provide services to long-term clients, as well as, providing services to the newly diagnosed.

Bucky: Wow, that’s food for thought. Thanks for being interviewed for The Buck Report.